Coordinated fastening system for clothing

ABSTRACT

An article of wear in the form of a fabric garment has openings to allow limbs of a wearer, such as an infant, to pass through. The article of wear includes a plurality of snap fasteners installed in series onto the fabric along opposite sides of at least one opening of the garment. Each of the series of snap fasteners is defined by a matching pair of snap fastener parts in the form of stud and socket portions with attaching units. At least pairs of matching snap fasteners that are adjacent to one another have different unique tactile indicators associated therewith such that each pair of stud and socket portions, with respective attaching units, has a unique tactile surface associated therewith, thereby reducing a possibility that a user might mismatch any given stud or socket pair.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to a coordinated fastening system for clothing and more specifically to both a tactile coordinated fastening system and a color coded fastening system for use on clothing, such as children's garments, to simplify the fastening process.

BACKGROUND

There are a number of different types of fasteners that are used with clothing and more specifically, with children's clothing. For example, conventional fasteners used with clothing include but are not limited to snaps, buttons, zippers, hooks and eyes, toggle fasteners, etc.

However, at least with respect to infant and young toddler clothing, snap fasteners are the most common type of fastener that is used. As described in more detail herein, snap fasteners, or snaps, feature interlocking discs. Certain kinds of metal or plastic fasteners are hand-sewn on the garment. Another type of snap fastener requires special snap pliers that press the parts onto the garment. The two types of snaps are the post-style and the prong-style. The post-style features a shaft that pierces the fabric. The prong-style features prongs or metal teeth that pierce the fabric. Post-style snaps work well on heavy outerwear and denim jeans. Prong-style snaps suit children's wear and lightweight jackets. Snap tape includes two fabric strips with rows of snap fasteners that snap together to close.

As mentioned, snaps are one of the most common fasteners on baby (infant) and toddler's clothing for both safety and convenience. Unlike buttons which can be detached easily and swallowed by babies, snaps are attached firmly by mechanical means. Additionally, it is much easier to open a series of snaps than to unbutton a series of buttons. Zippers, although easy to close and open, can cause injury to moving babies or when the parent is in a rush.

In infant clothing, a plurality of snaps is usually found in and around the crotch area or in-seams. Some infant clothing includes a considerable number of snaps and users often find it difficult to close a long series of snaps and often mismatch the part (e.g., studs and sockets) of the snap fasteners especially when babies are moving, when starting a row of snaps and during less than ideal conditions, such as is the middle of the night with low light conditions.

SUMMARY

An article of wear in the form of a fabric garment has openings to allow limbs of a wearer, such as an infant, to pass through. The article of wear includes a plurality of snap fasteners installed in series onto the fabric along opposite sides of at least one opening of the garment. Each of the series of snap fasteners is defined by a matching pair of snap fastener parts in the form of stud and socket portions with attaching units. At least pairs of matching snap fasteners that are adjacent to one another have identically unique tactile indicators associated therewith such that each pair of stud and socket portions, with respective attaching units, has a unique tactile surface associated therewith, thereby reducing a possibility that a user might mismatch any given stud or socket pair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two common assemblies of snap fasteners of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an article of clothing (e.g., an infant onesie) having a snap fastener system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and shown in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a partial front perspective view of the clothing of FIG. 1 showing the snap fastener system in an open position;

FIGS. 4A-C shows steps in attaching a first portion (flap) of the clothing to a second portion using a snap fastener system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-C are perspective views showing snap fasteners in accordance with the present invention that have a tactile surface to assist the user in mating a series of snap fasteners;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a series of one type of snap fasteners that included different shaped parts to assist the user in mating the snap fasteners;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a series of a different type of snap fasteners that included different shaped parts to assist the user in mating the snap fasteners;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a shirt utilizing a button system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 9A-C shows various button fasteners having different tactile surfaces in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purposes of clarity, many other elements which may be found in the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art will recognize that other elements are desirable and/or required in order to implement the present invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because such elements do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein.

As mentioned herein, snap fasteners or snaps are a type of clasp or fastener that closes with a click. In general, snaps consist of two units, namely, the closure unit and the attaching unit. With respect to the post style snap, the snap has a shaft in its attaching unit which includes a capped post and a post. A post style snap requires a hole to penetrate the fabric it is applied on. In contrast, the prong style snap has teeth on its attaching unit, namely, a capped prong ring and an open prong ring, that penetrate through the fabric it is applied on.

It will be understood that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to any of the various types of snap fasteners (snaps). Thus, while certain types of snap fasteners are shown in the drawings and described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments but instead extends to any type of snap fastener as well as other similar fasteners that have two mating parts.

FIG. 1 shows two of the most common snap fastener types. As mentioned herein, in general, a snap fastener 10 is made up of two parts, namely, a closure unit 20, which includes a socket 22 and a stud 24, and an attaching unit 30. Conventionally, there are two types of snap fasteners, namely, a post style and a prong style. The post style snap has a shaft in its attaching unit 30 which includes a capped post 34 and a post 36. A post style snap requires a hole to penetrate the fabric it is applied on. On the other hand, the prong style snap has teeth on its attaching unit 30, namely, a capped prong ring 42 and an open prong ring 44, that penetrate through the fabric it is applied on.

As shown in FIG. 1, a post style snap fastener 50 and a prong style snap fastener 60 are shown. In one embodiment, the closure unit 20 consists of a male part that is called a stud 24 and a female part that is called a socket 22 and together the stud 24 and socket 22 form a temporary and tight closure when mated together. In one embodiment, the attaching unit 30 can be formed of the capped post 34 and post 36 in the post style snap fastener 50 or the capped ring 42 and open ring 44 in the prong style fastener 60. The main function of the capped post 34 and capped ring 42 is secure the socket 22 at a desirable position (location) by piercing through the fabric with the post or prongs and mechanically coupling with the socket 22. In another embodiment, the post 36 or open ring 44 performs the same function on the stud 24.

FIGS. 2-3 and 7 show one exemplary snap fastening system 100 according to the present invention and in particular, the snap fastening system 100 includes a stud component 200 and a complementary socket component 300 which mates with the stud component 200.

The stud component 200 can be of a conventional construction and includes a stud 210 and a matching attaching unit 220. The stud component 200 is attached to clothing at a first location, such as a first edge of seam.

Similarly, the socket component 300 can be of a conventional construction and includes socket 310 and a matching attaching unit 320. The socket component 300 is attached to the clothing at a second location, such as a second edge of the seam. When mated together, the stud and socket components 200, 300 serve to attach the first and second edges of the seam. As is known, the components 200, 300 are in the form of a pair of interlocking discs and the stud component (male component) 200 has a groove which is “snapped” in place by the socket component (female component) 300.

In accordance with the present invention, the snap fastening system 100 is configured so as to offer tactile and/or visual guidance and feedback to the user to assist the user in attaching the individual snap fasteners in the correct order.

Thus according to one embodiment, visual guidance can be provided to a person to assist the person in attaching pairs of snap fasteners according to a visual cue that is distinct for each pair of snap fasteners. In yet another embodiment, the visual cue can be based on the snap fasteners having different shapes. More particularly, at least one of the stud 210 and the socket 310 can be formed to have a distinct shape which is different from the shapes of the other studs 210 and sockets 310 that are part of the system 100.

Thus, one set of snap fasteners can have a first shape; a second set of snap fasteners can have a second shape; a third set of snap fasteners can have a third shape, etc. Accordingly, a user can easily join the mating snaps according to shape, thereby eliminating the “trial and error” that is often incurred in mating such fasteners.

The different shapes give visual cues (other than color) and guidance to the person in mating the complementary pairs of fasteners that are intended to mate with one another.

Any number of different shapes can be used so long as adjacent snap fasteners have shapes that are readily distinguishable from one another. For example, exemplary shapes include but are not limited to: circle, oval, triangular, square, rectangle, oblong, etc. The shapes are preferably both visually and tactilely distinguishable from one another such that the user can easily match the proper sets of snap fasteners to one another. For example, the first set of snap fasteners can have a circular shape; the second set of snap fasteners can have a triangular shape; the third set of snap fasteners can have a square shape, etc. To properly join the fastener, the two identically shaped fastener components are mated together and similarly, the next set of identically shaped fastener components are mated together, etc.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment in which the snap fasteners shown in FIG. 7 are implemented along to edges of fabric (crotch area of a onesie) to allow joining of these two fabric edges. In this embodiment, the attaching unit 320 of the socket component 300 and the stud 210 of the stud component 200 have matching shapes to assist the user in mating the respective components 200, 300 together. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which one pair of stud and socket components 200, 300 has a square shape; one pair of stud and socket components 200, 300 has a circle shape, and one pair of stud and socket components 200, 300 has a triangular shape.

The different shapes also provide tactile feedback in that the user can also feel the shape of snap fastener and in environments in which it is visually difficult to see the physical snap fasteners, the user can mentally visualize the shape of the snap fastener based on touch. In particular, if the user runs his or her finger over the outer periphery of the snap fastener, the user receives tactile feedback that allows the user to determine what the shape of the fastener is and also if the other snap fastener that the user is touching has a similar shape, thereby indicating a matching pair.

A user can readily distinguish a circle shaped fastener relative to a triangle or square, etc., by running his or her finger about the periphery of the fastener.

It will be appreciated that the shape can be implemented in the attaching unit and/or the respective stud or socket or other part of the fastener. When only the attaching units 220, 320 are formed to have different distinguishable shapes from one another, the mating step is driven more by tactile feedback since these portions are typically covered when the clothing is placed into a position for mating of the snap fasteners.

The present snap fastener system thus does not rely on color differences amongst the snaps.

FIG. 6 shows a different embodiment in which the matching shapes are implemented in the stud 210 and socket 310 parts of the stud and socket components 200, 300, respectively. FIG. 6 shows various shapes; however, others can be used.

In yet another embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 4-5, the snap fasteners are constructed so as to provide tactile feedback to the user to assist the user in mating the appropriate pairs of snap fasteners to one another. In other words, the user feels the snaps and through tactile feedback, the user can successfully and accurately match the corresponding sets of snap fasteners. Accordingly, at least one surface of each snap fastener component comprises a tactile surface that can be readily differentiated (based on touch) from a tactile surface of a snap fastener component that belongs to a different set. In other words, a person uses the sense of touch to differentiate the different snap fasteners and like feeling snap fasteners constitute a pair that is mated to one another.

Accordingly, the pairs of snap fasteners (or other types of snap fasteners for that matter) are constructed so as to have a readily identifiable tactile surface that provides tactile feedback to the user. The user thus feels the tactile surface of one snap fastener part and finds the complementary tactile surface of the other snap fastener which forms the mating pair, thereby ensure the two snap fastener parts are properly mated together.

In accordance with the present invention, any number of readily distinguishable textured surfaces can be used to form the tactile surface of the snap fastener. For example, the textured surface can be: a smooth surface or a rough surface and can have distinct tactile properties that allow the textured surface to be identifiable. The textured surface can thus a course surface, a bumpy surface, a ribbed surface, etc. In addition, the textured surface can be defined by a protrusion and/or indentation that forms some type of tactile pattern. For example, the textured surface can be in the form of a raised ring or can be in the form of a center depression, such as a crater. A user will readily be able to distinguish that the two snap fastener pairs form a match by running his or her finger along the tactile surface and processing the tactile feedback that is observed. For example, if the user feels a center crater and feels a raised protrusion (e.g., ring) (in accordance with the above example), the user will immediately know that the two snap fastener parts do not define a matching pair and thus should not be mated together.

It will also be appreciated that different materials with different textures can be used to form the tactile surface of the present invention. For example, the tactile surface can be formed of any number of different materials and it will also be appreciated that the tactile surface can be formed of a different material than the material that forms the rest of the snap fastener. For example, the body of the snap fastener can be formed of a first material, such as metal, and the tactile surface can be formed of a second material, such as a plastic or fabric. Alternatively, the entire snap fastener part, including the tactile surface, can be formed of the same material. In this case, the tactile surface can be an integral feature that is formed by any number of conventional techniques including but not limited to a stamping process, casting process, etc.

FIGS. 4A-C show a snap fastener system including three different pairs of snap fasteners 400, 410, 420, each having a different tactile surface. As in the previous embodiments, each of the pairs 400, 410, 420 has two complementary parts, such as a post and socket, that mate together to form an attachment as described herein. Accordingly, the pair 400 has a first part 402 and a complementary second part 404; the pair 410 has a first part 412 and a complementary second part 414; and the pair 420 has a first part 422 and a complementary second part 424. Each of the respective parts 402, 404 includes a tactile surface 405; each of the respective parts 412, 414 includes a tactile surface 415; and each of the respective parts 422, 424 includes a tactile surface 425. In the illustrated embodiment, the tactile surface 405 (FIG. 5A) includes a shaped recess in the form of a triangle (conversely, the tactile surface can be a raised triangular shape on a flat face); the tactile surface 415 (FIG. 5B) includes a shaped recess in the form of a circle (center crater) (conversely, the tactile surface can be a raised circle shape on a flat face); and the tactile surface 425 (FIG. 5C) comprises a rough surface (similar to sandpaper).

As described above, the user feels the tactile surfaces associated with parts of the snap fasteners disposed along one edge of the clothing and mates the respective snap fasteners with identical tactile surfaces that are associated with the other mating parts of the snap fasteners that are disposed along another edge of the clothing.

As with the previous embodiments, it will be appreciated that the tactile surface can be implemented in the attaching unit and/or the respective stud or socket or other part of the fastener. When only the attaching units (e.g., such as 220, 320) are formed to have different distinguishable tactile surfaces from one another, the mating step is completed by feeling the tactile surfaces of the respective attaching units 220, 320 and then mating the two matching tactile surfaces to one another. This ensures that the snap fasteners are attached correctly.

The respective tactile surfaces can be on different parts of the snap fasteners. For example, the tactile surface can be on the attaching unit 220 (which thus faces inward toward the wearer) and on the outer surface of the socket 310 (which thus faces outward from the wearer). Alternatively, the mating parts of the two components 200, 300 can include the tactile surface. For example, the stud 210 and the socket 310 can include the tactile surface and in which case, the two tactile surfaces mate directly together and can be at least substantially hidden from view when the snap fastener parts are mated together.

It will thus be appreciated that the matching tactile surface can be implemented in the snap fastener types shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and thus, can be either part of the stud or socket or the attaching unit.

FIGS. 8-9 show an embodiment in which the teachings of the present invention are implemented into a shirt 11 and more particularly are implemented into a button type fastener 500. The button type fastener 500 includes a first part 510 for placement along a first edge of the shirt 11 and a second part 520 for placement along a second edge of the shirt 11. Each of the first and second parts includes a matching textile surface 517, 527, respectively, as described below.

The first part 510 can include holes 514 to permit attachment of a button 512 to the first part 510 by means of thread being inserted through the holes 514. The second part 520 includes a slit 521 for receiving the button 512 that is attached to the first part 510. The button 512 is inserted through the slit 521 as in a conventional button arrangement.

It will be appreciated that the tactile surface 517, 527 can be formed on one or more surfaces of the first and second parts 510, 520, respectively. In particular, the tactile surface 517, 527 can be limited to the rear or bottom surface of the first and second parts 510, 520 so as to limit visibility during wearing of the article. The tactile surface 517, 527 can be formed on both the top and bottom surfaces of the first and second parts 510, 520.

The first and second parts 510, 520 can be formed of any number of different materials and can be formed of more than one material. For example, the parts 510, 520 can be formed of fabric, plastic, etc. The parts can also be an integral part of the fabric clothing and in such case, the tactile surface is applied directly to a portion (local area) of the shirt. For example, the tactile surface can be applied using any number of conventional techniques, including printing, molding, casting or other applied techniques. The tactile surface can thus be applied to the clothing (fabric) about the button hole and the button itself on the other section of the clothing.

The tactile surfaces 517, 527 can be any of the types described herein. FIG. 9A shows a ribbed tactile surface; FIG. 9B shows raised protrusions (bumps); and FIG. 9C shows a smooth surface. Any number of different tactile surfaces so long as at least adjacent button fasteners have readily distinguishable surfaces when a finger contact and moves along the surface.

The present invention thus provides at least one of visual and tactile feedback to guide and assist the user in attaching the snap fasteners in the correct order especially in difficult conditions, such as low light conditions, when the wearer (e.g., an infant) is moving, etc.

The efficient closing of baby garments is particularly important so that users are able to snap close the in-seam quickly and without fussing over selecting and closing the correct pair of stud and socket when the baby is constantly moving.

Moreover, the snap fastener system of the present invention can be an effective education tool to teach toddlers to dress themselves. The visual and tactile features provide strong identifiers for toddlers to learn shape matching and tactile matching. Toddlers can simply match the shapes and/or match the tactile surfaces on matching studs and sockets and snap close them one by one.

It will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention can be implemented in other applications including but not limited to pet products, such as dog coats and coverings which include edges of fabric that are joined to one another to form the article that covers the dog and home furnishings, including duvet covers and other products that include a series of snaps in which a user can easily be confused and misalign the snap pairs. Thus, the teachings of the present invention can be implemented in any number of different applications in which traditional snap fasteners are used.

The invention is described in detail with reference to a particular embodiments thereof, but the scope of the invention is to be gauged by the claims that follow and also by those modifications that provide equivalent features to those that are claimed as such modifications are still within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An article of wear comprising: a garment formed of fabric and having openings to allow limbs of a wearer to pass through; and a plurality of snap fasteners installed in series onto the fabric along opposite sides of at least one opening of the garment, each of the series of snap fasteners is defined by a matching pair of snap fastener parts comprising stud and socket portions with attaching units, each pair of matching snap fasteners having an identically unique tactile series of different tactile indicators associated therewith such that each pair of stud and socket portions, with respective attaching units, has a unique tactile surface associated therewith, thereby reducing a possibility that a user might mismatch any given stud or socket pair.
 2. The article of wear of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is formed as part of the attaching units of the respective stud and socket portions.
 3. The article of wear of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is formed as part of the stud and socket portions.
 4. The article of wear of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface comprises one of a smooth surface and a textured surface.
 5. The article of wear of claim 4, wherein the textured surface comprises a surface selected from the group consisting of a rough surface, a ribbed surface, a surface having a raised protrusion having a predetermined shape; a surface with one or more bumps, and a surface with one or more indentations.
 6. The article of wear of claim 1, wherein the tactile surface is formed of a material that is different than the material used to form the stud and socket portions and the respective attaching units thereof.
 7. The article of wear of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a onesie.
 8. The article of wear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of snap fasteners have the same color.
 9. An article of wear comprising: a garment formed of fabric; and a plurality of snap fasteners installed in series onto the fabric along opposite sides of at least one opening of the garment, each of the series of snap fasteners is defined by a matching pair of snap fastener parts comprising stud and socket portions with attaching units, wherein at least pairs of matching snap fasteners that are adjacent to one another have different unique tactile indicators associated therewith such that each pair of stud and socket portions, with respective attaching units, has a unique tactile surface associated therewith, thereby reducing a possibility that a user might mismatch any given stud or socket pair.
 10. The article of wear of claim 9, wherein the tactile surface is formed as part of the attaching units of the respective stud and socket portions.
 11. The article of wear of claim 9, wherein the tactile surface is formed as part of the stud and socket portions.
 12. The article of wear of claim 9, wherein the tactile surface comprises one of a smooth surface and a textured surface.
 13. The article of wear of claim 12, wherein the textured surface comprises a surface selected from the group consisting of a rough surface, a ribbed surface, a surface having a raised protrusion having a predetermined shape; a surface with one or more bumps, and a surface with one or more indentations.
 14. The article of wear of claim 9, wherein the tactile surface is formed of a material that is different than the material used to form the stud and socket portions and the respective attaching units thereof.
 15. The article of wear of claim 9, wherein the garment comprises a onesie.
 16. The article of wear of claim 9, wherein there are at least three different unique tactile surfaces associated with the series of snap fasteners.
 17. An article of wear comprising: a garment formed of fabric; and a plurality of button fasteners installed in series onto the fabric along opposite sides of at least one opening of the garment, each of the series of button fasteners is defined by a button attached along one edge of the opening and a slit formed in the garment along an opposite edge, wherein at least pairs of matching button fasteners that are adjacent to one another have different unique tactile indicators associated therewith such that each pair of button fasteners has a unique tactile surface associated therewith, thereby reducing a possibility that a user might mismatch any given stud or socket pair, wherein for each matching pair of button fasteners, the tactile surface comprises a first tactile surface portion that surrounds the button and a second tactile surface portion that surrounds the slit. 